Personally, I would rather find out about a good book through word-of-mouth than by readings some bestseller list. However, if you’re interested in picking up a new book by a Northwest author, you might check out one of the books chosen for the 2008 Pacific Northwest Book Awards. Out of 200 nominations from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska and Montana (since when was Montana considered part of the Pacific Northwest?), judges chose these six books:

Dancing With Rose: Finding Life in the Land of Alzheimer’s
by Lauren Kessler of Eugene, OR

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
by Sherman Alexie of Seattle, WA

Returning To Earth
by Jim Harrison, of Paradise Valley, Montana

Tree of Smoke
by Denis Johnson of Northern Idaho

The God of Animals
by Aryn Kyle of Missoula, MT

Bad Monkeys
by Matt Ruff of Seattle, WA

-Jenny Furniss